Training Camp 2018 discussion

[DreamKid]

RSR and Beatdown's notes for today- https://russellstreetreport.com/2018/07/22/camp-notes/ravens-training-camp-report/    https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/2018/7/22/17600462/baltimore-ravens-training-camp-news-and-notes-day-three

 

RSR

-After spending the morning at camp, I am wondering why Breshad Perriman is still on the team.

While his $649,485 bonus was pocket change to the Ravens, I just don’t see how he makes the final roster. Michael Crabtree, John Brown and Will Snead are essential locks to make the team. Tim White and Chris Moore both stand out and have been effective catching passes.

Also, rookie draft picks Jordan Lasley and Jaleel Scott have looked good early on in camp. Neither Lasley nor Scott have experienced the routine drops that hamper most rookie receivers. Both players look good and should have a bright future in purple.

Perriman should be the odd man out.-

Other Notes

— Speaking of White and Lasley, both got their shot today as kick returners. White was far better, showing explosion when he caught that ball. Lasley didn’t fair as well, muffing two kicks. 

— I love the intensity of rookie safety DeShon Elliott. During the 11-on-11 drills, he knocked receiver Jaelon Acklin to the ground. Elliott did try to pull up and avoid the hit. He goes 100 mph and I love his fire. I just hope he can control it in the games. He “Plays like Raven.”

— With Ronnie Stanley missing practice today, the line from left to right consisted of Jermaine Eluemunor, Alex Lewis, Matt Skura, James Hurst and Orlando Brown, Jr. Brown was getting extra attention from the coaches. That is not a bad thing. My take: It’s clear the Ravens want him start this year and a little extra guidance can go along way. 

— The RPO is alive and well in Baltimore.

The Ravens spent individual drills working with all the QBs and the run-pass option. Not surprisingly, Lamar Jackson was the most effective. His speed is even more impressive in person. While there was no hitting, you could clearly see he has that extra gear that will allow him to run through the defense. Even Joe Flacco got into the action, pulling the ball back and taking it for a run, which drew a round of applause from the fans in attendance.

— As for the tight ends, I think Maxx Williams will be the odd man out. Rookies Hayden Hurst and Mark Andrews are already set to make the team, Nick Boyle will serve as the blocking TE and Vince Mayle should make it on his special teams play. Williams is yet another reminder of the disappointing 2015 draft. Williams also had two drops during individual drills when he was wide open after shaking the defender.

— File this away for later: UDFA Nick Keizer ran with the first team in two tight-end sets with Hurst out with an injury. Remember, Keizer personally worked out with Greg Roman prior to this draft. While he is most likely headed to the practice squad, don’t be surprised if he gets paid extra by the team to stay around.

— Lastly, the Randy Hymes award for the receiver who fans will love during meaningless preseason games goes to DeVier Posey. He had another good day at practice, but probably gets caught up in the numbers game. This will ultimately lead to fans expressing frustration, insinuating the coaching staff doesn’t recognize talent.

 

BB

Young secondary impresses

-Deshon Elliott continues to impress in an expanded role. With Tony Jefferson and Eric Weddlereceiving a rest day, Elliott delivered several big hits, including one on tight end Nick Keizer. Elliott had another hit that jarred the ball loose from the receiver.

-Anthony Averett looked spectacular on the outside. His press coverage technique has been flawless as he forces receivers to the sidelines.

-Stanley Jean-Baptiste had a learning moment at the end of practice. Chris Moore completely juked him and was wide open in the end zone for a touchdown. Jean-Baptiste has intriguing measurables, but it has always been about if he can get it all together.

-Undrafted free agent Darious Williams produced a highlight pass breakup against Tim White. Joe Flacco underthrew White, but Williams made an impressive play.

-Second year corner Marlon Humphrey continued to cement himself as an ascending star, notching an impressive pass breakup along the sidelines.

 

Front seven

-Those who have written off Zach Sieler as a practice squad player may be wrong about him, as he showed explosiveness off the ball throughout practice.

-Kamalei Correa struggled during the special teams portion of practice, as coach Jerry Rosburg took him aside to lecture him multiple times. He did not stand out in the team or individual drills either. Correa is clearly on the roster bubble; and he needs to deliver, or he will likely be looking for a new team.

-Tim Williams and Tyus Bowser both looked smooth during special teams drills. Williams looked explosive off the ball in team drills, while Bowser was solid in coverage. The linebackers seem to be progressing nicely.

-Alvin Jones and Myles Humphrey were both impressive in the special teams drill as well., with ST Coach Jerry Rosburg praising each of them several times. They both showed solid quickness off the ball.

 

Young receivers shine

-Michael Crabtree, Willie Snead, and John Brown barely participated in the team drills, but Baltimore’s younger receivers stood out. Jaleel Scott was the best receiver on the field, demonstrating pure and crisp route running and his hands were reliable. Scott could serve as a competent third down and red zone option for the Ravens.

-However, Jordan Lasley had an inconsistent day. He muffed a couple of kicks during the opening portion of practice although he did bounce back later in the day. He also had a critical drop during team drills, but he did showcase great concentration with several other catches.

-The first few days of training camp, Tim White has been impressive. He has made great sideline catches, while also looking like the best returner on the field. White looked smooth during the special teams portion of practice, while looking equally as good as a receiver. With the Ravens’ big three receivers sitting out, White received more snaps, and has made the most of them. His routes are smooth, and his hands look reliable as well.

-Janarion Grant is pushing for a roster spot as he was impressive on Sunday. His ability to quickly change direction was on full display during practice. He had one drop on the day, but he bounced back.

-Breshad Perriman turned in another shaky performance. He made some highlight catches, while also struggling with technique and drops. Perriman had a couple of drops on passes that were thrown well. He is still fighting for a spot, but he has to improve his technique. Perriman still alligator arms the ball, which is fundamentally wrong and leads to drops.

-Chris Moore looked sharp during practice, especially in the team drills. He made a miraculous catch that saved an errant Joe Flacco pass. Moore must prove that he can be more than a training camp star.

-Andre Levrone made several impressive plays as a result of his snap increase. His route running was raw, but he created separation. Levrone was one of the biggest winners of Sunday’s practice.

-Jaelon Acklin had a couple of fantastic catches, but he struggled with his technique and drops during practice.

 

Tight ends

-With Hayden Hurst sitting out, Nick Boyle and Mark Andrews saw an increase in snaps. Boyle looked smooth as a route-runner, which is unusual for him. Andrews made several highlight type catches, but he struggled to make an impact in the team drills. Maxx Williams, who is fighting for a roster spot, dropped a pass today and was mostly underwhelming the rest of the day.

-Nick Keizer displayed solid hands and awareness during the team drills. He took a big hit from Elliott but bounced back with a catch later in the drill.

 

Running backs

-De’Lance Turner looked sharp during kick returns and team drills. He may not make the roster, but he could have a shot at the practice squad.

-Mark Thompson struggled with a drop and hitting the hole hard. He will be competing with Turner and Gus Edwards for potentially the practice squad.

 

Offensive line

-Without Ronnie Stanley, Jermaine Eluemunor received the first-team snaps at left tackle. Eluemunor looked great at tackle, but the interior of the offensive line struggled. Matt Skura was far from impressive at center or guard. He failed to sustain his blocks during team drills.

-Alex Lewis was more serviceable at center than Skura. Lewis had a strong showing at both positions. He looked comfortable at center, which could be an interesting storyline to monitor. This could push James Hurst to the starting left guard spot.

-Orlando Brown Jr. looked dominant, but he still has some things to learn. Coach Joe D’Alessandris was continually working with him and trying to get him to use more leverage by being in better position.

 

Quarterbacks

-Joe Flacco had another fantastic day. His footwork was consistent, and his timing looked to be perfect with his receivers. Flacco threw accurate strike after strike. There were a couple of wobbly, inaccurate throws mixed in, but for the most part, he was shockingly good.

-Lamar Jackson had another day filled with splash plays, but also plays that will serve as a learning lesson. His excellent ability to scan the field was noticeable, but his accuracy issues were concerning. Jackson dropped several ‘dimes,’ but also had a lot of inaccurate throws.

-Robert Griffin III did not receive a ton of reps, but his arm is lively. He made several big-time throws that riled up the crowd. He was a leader off the field as well. He was constantly helping the younger players and giving high-fives. Griffin III has looked great on-the-field during team drills.

 

[DreamKid]

Sun's camp notes- http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bs-sp-ravens-rail-training-camp-20180722-story.html

-Solid debut for Flacco

Sunday was Joe Flacco’s first practice in which he worked against the Ravens defense, and the quarterback appeared solidly ahead of rookie Lamar Jackson and veteran Robert Griffin III. Flacco found rookie tight end Mark Andrews over the middle on a well-designed seam route, zipped passes to several receivers on comeback routes and avoided getting intercepted. Flacco ended practice by leading the offense down the field during a two-minute drill, finding wide receiver Chris Moore alone in the back right corner of the end zone for a touchdown.

-One-on-one success

Tavon Young was the defensive standout during a one-on-one drill between receivers and defensive backs. The cornerback broke up Flacco’s pass intended for rookie wide receiver Jordan Lasley on a comeback route along the right sideline and blanketed Lasley on an out route that forced Flacco to throw he ball away. Young looks fully recovered from the torn ACL in his left knee that sidelined him for the entire 2017 season.

-Under construction

Matt Skura and Alex Lewis have been sharing repetitions at center as the team searches for a replacement for Ryan Jensen, who left in the offseason for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the education continues for both players. Defensive tackle Willie Henry blew up Lewis during one full-team exercise, and Skura nearly snapped the ball over Flacco’s 6-foot-6 frame. But Skura and Lewis have cut down on their missteps so far.

-Delivering the wood

Rookie safety DeShon Elliott made his presence known with a pair of hard hits. During a full-team exercise, he decked Nick Keizer after the rookie tight end caught a pass from Jackson and dislodged the ball from Keizer’s grasp. During a 6-on-7 drill, Elliott trucked rookie wide receiver Jaelon Acklin to cause another incompletion.

-Fool me once…

During an exercise in which the offense was tasked with fourth-and-7, a hard count by Flacco enticed outside linebacker Tyus Bowser to jump offsides. On the next play under the same conditions, the defense did not budge with Griffin under center.

-Butterfingers

Sunday was not a good day for several rookies trying to demonstrate they can return kicks. During an extended kick return exercise with an emphasis on blocking, wide receivers Janarion Grant and Lasley and running back Gus Edwards each dropped kickoffs, and Lasley did it twice. Each mistake drew loud groans from fans watching practice.

-Overheard at practice Part 1

While transitioning from one exercise to another, coach John Harbaugh implored the players to get to their positions quickly. When they apparently did not move fast enough, Harbaugh said loudly, “Guys, when I say get moving, that means stop walking!”

-Overheard at practice Part 2

“You’ve got to keep your head on a swivel, boy!” — A Ravens support staffer to another holding the down marker after safety Chuck Clark pushed tight end Maxx Williamsinto him, knocking him to the ground.

[DreamKid]

PennLive Camp Notes-https://www.pennlive.com/expo/sports/erry-2018/07/51d79f0bba7733/baltimore-ravens-practice-note.html

 

Flacco in a groove

-Starting quarterback Joe Flacco participated in a full practice Sunday for the first time this training camp and looked sharp throughout the day. He launched a gorgeous deep ball to John Brown early on, and made a strong throw in 11-on-11 drills that sailed between three defenders and into the arms of tight end Mark Andrews, who was streaking down the middle of the field. 

-Flacco also appeared comfortable moving in and out of the pocket, at one pointing rifling a strong pass to rookie Jordan Lasley while rolling to his right. 

 

Big hits from a rookie

-Elliott, a sixth-round rookie safety out of Texas, seemed somewhat overeager during his first padded training camp practice. He railroaded Nick Keizer after the tight end hauled in a short pass in the flat and later walloped a receiver who was running a route across the middle of the field. 

 

Chris Moore, Tim White make plays

-Moore was probably the most productive offensive player at practice Sunday. He leapt to grab a pass early in practice with one hand and snagged several completions from Flacco along both sidelines. He ended the session with an easy over-the-shoulder touchdown catch, too. 

-Meanwhile, White impressed as an underneath pass-catching option by pulling down a few receptions on shorter routes. 

-With three veterans free agent additions, two rookies and Breshad Perriman in the fold, the competition for roster spots at wide receiver could grow fierce. Moore and White appear to be separating themselves from the other players on the fringe.

 

Some missteps in the return game

 

-The Ravens spent time practicing kickoffs and returns, with White and undrafted rookie Janarion Grant among those back deep. Both players bobbled kicks at times, and the unit looked a bit disorganized overall. Part of the blame for those gaffes lies with  jitters and rust players experience early in training camp, special teams coach Jerry Rosburg said. Plus, Baltimore is adjusting to new kick off rules that will alter how teams defend and return the play.

 

Shuffling on the offensive line

 

-Left tackle Ronnie Stanley was not on the field Sunday, and Jermaine Eluemunor took first-team snaps at the position. He committed one false start penalty, but otherwise, the 2017 fifth-round pick held his own. Mornhinweg said Eluemunor, who's played mostly at guard, has the skill set to move outside and provide extra flexibility for the offense. 

 

-On the other side of the line, the Ravens kept Orlando Brown Jr. at right tackle and James Hurst at right guard. Once Marshal Yanda (shoulder surgery) returns to the field, Hurst and Brown will likely compete for the starting right tackle job.

 

-Matt Skura has remained as the starting center with Alex Lewis at left guard for most of camp. During a few plays Sunday, the two flipped -- Lewis tried his hand at center, while Skura shifted over to guard (Skura started games at right guard last season in place of Yanda). 

 

 

 

 

 

[drd23]

Sounding more and more like we might want to try to keep 7 WRs and 6 or more CBs around

I think its almost certain at least one of each will develop an IR worthy injury just before roster cut downs

[AFlaccoSeagulls]

Quote

This will ultimately lead to fans expressing frustration, insinuating the coaching staff doesn’t recognize talent.

I think we have a laundry list of reasons to believe this coaching staff doesn't recognize talent at the WR position, and none of those reasons have anything to do with DeVier Posey lol

[Danand]

Seems like Lasley could need a year to mature and work on the hands.

Otherwise it is good to see the various reports so far. Still a very interesting camp with no injuries.

[AFlaccoSeagulls]

Is it time to start worrying about Hayden Hurst's "soft tissue" injury yet?

[AFlaccoSeagulls]

This is great news because if there's one position that lacks depth right now it's OLB.

[M.10.E]

Stoked for pre-season. Need to see a heavy dose of Lamar.

[DreamKid]

Team Site Notes- https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/practice-report-7-23-joe-flacco-finds-michael-crabtree-for-red-zone-touchdowns

The Ravens got a sneak peek of what their biggest free-agent addition can bring to the field.

Wide receiver Michael Crabtree signed with the Ravens as part of a receiving corps makeover, and the 10-year veteran gives the Ravens a proven red-zone threat. Crabtree put those skills on display during Monday’s practice, which was his first full practice of training camp.

Crabtree hauled in a pair of short touchdowns from starting quarterback Joe Flacco.

The first score came during 11-on-11 drills in the middle of a driving rainstorm. Crabtree found a hole between slot cornerback Tavon Young and inside linebacker Patrick Onwuasor, and Flacco delivered a spot-on pass for the score.

A little bit later, Flacco found Crabtree in the front corner of the end zone in seven-on-seven drills. The pass was thrown a bit behind Crabtree, but he snagged the ball away from rookie cornerback Anthony Averett.

Crabtree’s new teammates let out a big cheer after the play and he pretended to celebrate with an exaggerated spike before letting the ball down easy. Flacco also seemed fired up after the touchdown and jogged into the end zone to congratulate Crabtree.

Crabtree has seemed to develop a quick chemistry with Flacco, and he has all the tools of a No. 1 receiver. The 6-foot-1, 215 pounder catches the ball effortlessly, and those reliable hands will make him a popular target for Flacco this fall.

Monday was the first time that Flacco had gone through a full practice with Crabtree, John Brown and Willie Snead this camp, and it was a strong start for the group.

Here were some of the other notes from practice:

- Rookie tight ends Hayden Hurst (soft-tissue issue) and Mark Andrews (undisclosed) both didn’t practice. Andrews initially missed the first day of practice with a soft-tissue issue, but then practiced the last three days, so it’s unknown if his absence was related to the initial injury. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley and linebacker Kenny Young both returned to practice after missing Sunday. Cornerbacks Jimmy Smith and Maurice Canady both had the day off.

- Undrafted rookie Janarion Grant has been a pleasant surprise in the early part of training camp. He was best known for his return ability, but he’s made a handful of plays on offense. He made a nice catch over the middle of about 15-yards [ADD] from quarterback Josh Woodrum and then followed it up with another big gainer over the middle from quarterback Lamar Jackson. He has his work cut out for him if he’s going to earn a roster spot, but it’s been a nice start to camp for him.

- Rookie Orlando Brown is getting the first-team reps at right tackle in the early part of camp. James Hurst is mostly playing right guard while starter Marshal Yanda continues to recover from a shoulder injury, which gives Brown a chance to prove himself at right tackle. The third-round pick had an up-and-down day. Outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith blew by him at one point during 11-on-11 drills, but he also held up well against plenty of other pass rushers.

- A scary moment in practice occurred when starting left guard Alex Lewis went down in a pile and grabbed for his ankle. He limped off the field with the help of the trainers, but then walked off the issue and returned to drills a few minutes later.

- Second-year linebacker Tyus Bowser showed off his versatility Monday. He broke up a pass in the end zone intended for running back Mark Thompson, which demonstrated his skills as a coverage linebacker. A little bit later, he flushed Jackson out of the pocket with a strong pass rush. The Ravens want to see Bowser take a big step in his development, and Monday’s practice was a good sign.

- Rookie kicker Kaare Vedvik had one of the highlights of the day when he drilled a 67-yard field goal in the rain. The Marshall product has impressed the Ravens throughout the offseason. He’s technically a punter, but he’s shown he has the potential to play both positions.

[DreamKid]

RSR notes- https://russellstreetreport.com/2018/07/23/camp-notes/ravens-quarterbacks-looking-downfield/

 

Rookie Jaleel Scott, a fourth-round pick from New Mexico State, appears ready to make an impact and caught another touchdown pass Monday. His size, 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, will make him a force in the red zone.

I also haven’t seen Tim White drop a pass the entire camp and he could also be a difference-maker this season. Breshad Perriman has looked sharper each day and appears determined to earn a spot on the team even though the numbers might say otherwise.  

The Ravens practiced outdoors Monday despite a light rain. The fans were able to stay under cover and were treated to a show when Jackson juked about six defenders for a long run downfield. The Ravens have not had that type of dynamic player in several years, which has coincided with the recent playoff drought. The NFL must be thrilled Jackson will make his debut in a nationally televised Hall-of-Game on Aug. 2.   

Once again, veterans Michael Crabtree, Willie Snead and John Brown set a solid example for the younger players. While veterans are allowed to get to the practice field later than the scheduled time, Crabtree, Snead and Brown were on the field early working with coaches.

The situation at tight end is becoming difficult to gauge.

First-round pick Hayden Hurst has practiced just once because of a soft-tissue problem. Fellow rookie Mark Andrews was also not on the practice field Monday. He too has missed time with that soft-tissue injury.

Nick Keizer, an undrafted rookie from Grand Valley State, has taken advantage and made several nice catches Monday. Nick Boyle and Vince Mayle have also been solid, while Maxx Williams is having an uneven camp so far.

 

[DreamKid]

Beatdown's Notes: https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/2018/7/23/17603698/ravens-training-camp-highlights-lowlights-7-23-18-kaare-vedvik-kenny-young-michael-crabtree

 

The defense shined today, with multiple defensive backs creating pass break-ups. Unfortunately, they left something to be desired as back-to-back red-zone plays were dropped interceptions. Joe Flacco fired a pass to the back-corner of the end-zone and Marlon Humphrey made a big catch. It was pouring during these drills and clearly the weather affected his ability to secure the ball. He came down with it initially, but the ball bounced around and ultimately out of his arms. Nonetheless, no touchdown on that play.

Lamar stepped in on the next play and delivered a pass in tight coverage which Darious Williams had his arms around momentarily. Once again, though, the ball hit the turf.

Janarion Grant looked good today. This is the second time I’ve noticed him produce. After a couple catches in 11’s, he shook Tavon Young in the 5-man drills; the rain-soaked field clearly helped Grant. Initially, Tavon bullied him on the line in the slot, but Grant spun as Young was applying leverage and Grant broke free for a five-yard completion.

All along the running back depth chart, from Kenneth Dixon and Javorius Allen to Gus Edwards, this is a competition. The only player I feel exempt is Alex Collins. To me, he is the surefire starter. I’ve watched his footwork the past few practices and he’s capable of cutting quicker than we witnessed last season. Barring anything serious, he’s posting 1,000 yards. He’s also improved in the passing game, which will keep him on the field in third-down situations.

Kenny Young swatted a pass on a third-down red-zone situation against Joe Flacco. I’m liking what I’m seeing from both Anthony Averett and Kenny already.

Averett allowed a touchdown to Michael Crabtree during the 5-man drills. Flacco saw them line up and hit Crabtree next to the first pylon.

Overall, not a gaudy practice. A lot of running game stuff was worked on, but nothing I can analyze due to the lack of pads. I do like Collins’ footwork the most and it will be exciting to watch the first pre-season contest against the Chicago Bears here in ten days.

[DreamKid]

One big take away for me out of all the clips we've been hit with to start the season from OTAs on down, is how improved Alex Collin's hands look.

 

[DreamKid]

[drd23]

1 hour ago, DreamKid said:

If he continues the way he's apparently been going, it'll probably be down to Davis, Kaufusi and him for the last DL spot, and he'll be the one with the most potential of the 3.

I've never been a fan of Kaufusi and Davis doesn't bring anything Pierce doesn't, so I do hope he can win that spot